29 weeks

*he grabbed his empty bottle and tipped his head back to drink it! Maybe it was a fluke. But I've never had him hold it himself or anything. (Update: last night, Friday, he found his bottle and got it propped up while he laid on his back and drank the whole thing!)
*last week I forgot to mention, he does this adorable wrist thing. When he's reaching for something or sometimes just playing. He flicks/twists his wrist and hand. The best way to describe it is if you were flicking something away from you. It's gentle and just makes me smile. Sometimes he holds his thumb with his other hand, which is how he does it while playing. Or if my hair is hanging down in front of him while he's cradled in my arms. It's so sweet and tender. He's never grabbed my hair on purpose. Just when it gets in his hands and he just happens to close his fist.
*tooth popped!! We've seen it so close but Tuesday morning I checked and it looks like its out!!! He seemed to slightly sleep better for like half a day and then we think the other one is bothering him too/now. Never ending....
*as he rolls over, he's starting to be a little higher on his elbow-closer to getting to a sitting position. That will be the best day because once he falls over he is so mad until he can be sitting again, which requires our help.
*crawling!! Ok so he took one "step" but it happened and we both saw it! Haha. Now for him to do it again haha.
*Dean had his first thanksgiving!! We went for our own personal turkey trot and ran a 5k!! That was my goal after having Dean-run a 5k by thanksgiving! So I did it! It was fun to run with KR again. We don't get to very often anymore. After, we got ready and went to KRs parents for thanksgiving dinner! Dave and Kelly came again and it was fun to chat with family and relax, for the most part. Dean isn't able to nap much, if any, when we are over there, so he was a little grumpy, but he actually did pretty well. He got to eat sweet potatoes (although he has been for weeks) and banana (which apparently he doesn't like anymore. Sad!)
*we got our first Christmas tree!!! It was almost dark when we went out so we had to hurry but we think we got a good one! We wound up having to leave it though and we can't go back until Sunday to get it.
*bababa and Mamama. He goes back and forth between the two. We are trying to teach him the associations so he figures out what he's saying(ball and mama).
*I've been doing the signs for eat and all done. A week or two ago he really would watch when I did eat. No matter what he was doing, if I said eat and did the sign, he would turn back to the spoon and look at me intensely like he was learning. Now this week, he's started smiling when I do it. Progress?
*my friend lent me her electric double pump. So much help now that I'm pumping!
*he's started shutting his eyes tightly, randomly. At first I thought something es in his eye but nope. It's adorable and his new thing.
*also, he's starting to scrunch his nose up when he smiles and laughs. Haha. Cute!
*what does the alligator say? It doesn't say anything. It's very quiet. UNTIL IT EATS YOU!

28 weeks!

*reallllly close to crawling! From a seated position, he will step out with his hands a few times but his knees don't move. But Sooo close!
*he's really starting to anticipate! KR will say, "one, two..." And he starts smiling (anticipating being thrown in the sir on three). Or if you just repeat something and tickle, he starts to smile sooner and before. I love it!
*still pulling himself up to his kneed but not really farther than that.
*eating rice cereal, apples, sweet potatoes, pears, and now, banana! Don't know why I waited so long on that one haha.
*KR's brother got married Saturday so we had been planning on KR switching his day off this week from Friday Saturday. Well his resident let him keep Friday off too!! It was amazing having two days together, in a row! And as much as we like Sunday's, we can never do anything so it was nice to get out, together! We ran errands and went on a family yogurtland date and walked around bridgeport again. Thats like our new favorite thing. And then we stop in Barnes and noble and get dean a book. This week, Dr. Seuss was by 2 get one. So KR and I spent forever reminiscing (and reading to each other, simultaneously haha) our favorites. We each picked three without the other looking. We had 2 out of 3 the same! Haha. Green eggs and ham, and one fish two fish. Our third were different and we were both pretty attached to our choice. To the point where we needed to flip a coin. He wanted can you read with your eyes closed?(or something along those lines) and I wanted hop on pop. Then I saw the ABC book. I started reading it and we both were like, this is it! Haha. It was so easy! I think we were more excited than dean..we were like reading and all excited and dean was just sitting there in the stroller haha. Oh ya, these are for dean, oops. Haha.
*the wedding on Saturday was simple and low key. KR helped a family move in the am and then after the wedding, all the family went to KRs parents. Pizza and good company. It was fun. Dean had lots of freak out moments, mostly because he got passed around. But at one point ye was on the floor playing and KR asked me to watch him. While he was gone, I left dean to see how he'd do. Some youngest cousins, came over to play with dean and he was fine for a good long while! Yay! I'm trying to let him get used to people. Baby steps. (Pun intended).


*his tooth is soooo close! We can't wait for it to break through!! We give him Tylenol every other night and use the tablets and gel the other nights. Hopefully soon!
*we are still pumping during the day and nursing at night and its working out. I'm finally ahead and even pumping both sides at a time so it's less stressful. Dean doesn't mind waiting for me to pump if he already ate haha. It was hard for a while when he'd get hungry early and I hadn't pumped yet. But now I'm two ahead. Woo hoo!
*Sunday's solo again so im nervous. It was really hard last week but I think this is my last one. I keep getting confused though because usually he had Sunday off and we go to his parents. But instead he had Saturday off and we went over there. So Saturday felt like Sunday. Haha

27 weeks

*he's really started reaching out if you put your arms out to him. But I think it's mostly because he wants to grab on to you and pull himself up haha.
*he likes sweet potatoes now. And by like, I mean he only makes a face on the first two bites haha. But he is the one opening up for more! I promise I'm not force feeding. Haha
*Sunday we started a new feeding plan. I'm only pumping and giving him the bottle, but only during the day. I still nurse at night. It's turning out to be less stressful because I'm not worried about whether he will finish. He doesn't have to be sleepy. It's sad to let go but for now, it seems to be the right thing.
*Tuesday he had his six month appt. 19 lbs, 2 oz! 28 1/2 inches long! And his head is 18in! Yay he's growing!!! He got shots, including his flu shot. He had a rough afternoon, we gave him Tylenol and once it kicked in, he was much better. But then he slept so much that night!!! At least there is one positive if you have to see your sweet baby in pain. I still would never choose the pain though. Obviously.
*we had our first date! Thursday was the anniversary of when we got engaged! Per tradition, we went to olive garden. Peggy watched Dean. I was nervous until dinner. Then I was surprisingly calm. I only checked my phone a few times. He was fine when we walked in, but before he even saw us he started crying. When we got close enough, I asked, "was he off and on the whole time?" And she said that was exactly it. I guess I'm just glad it wasn't the whole time. But I count it as a success. He would be grumpy that time of day anyway. But it was nice to reconnect with KR. A good first run!
* we also formally introduced pears. I pureed some, rather than letting him lick mine haha. He of course made a face at the first two bites but he took to them much faster than sweet potatoes. I also made some apples but we are waiting to try those. (I'm loving my dandy little steamer/chopper!)
*I can't remember if I've mentioned but he really likes to pull himself up. He usually only gets to his knees though.
*he is rocking!! Haha. You know what I mean! He gets to his hands and knees, one leg still a tiny bit tucked. Then he rocks! Getting so close! A few times he even pushed back, back in to the seated position, instead of flattening out on his belly. Oh man. This boy tires me out all ready, and is keeping me on my toes. I can't imagine how it will be once he's mobile! Exciting stuff though!
*my vt's came over, each with small kids/babies and it made me aware they my house is NOT baby proof!! I think that better be on my to do list! I think it needs to bumped to the front of the line!!
*Saturday, KR got off very early! It was so nice!! Especially since his next day off is Saturday the 23rd. And, we have a family wedding that day so it won't be relaxing. Fun but busy. But then! The next week is four days on, four days off (thanksgiving)!! I can't wait!!! I think I can I think I can!!
*teething! I can see and feel a bulge! And he's cranky and not sleeping well...poor little guy.
*he's spitting a lot. Also he makes this adorable motor boat sound, brrrrr.
*k seriously, why is it so hard to find a white dress shirt for babies? That's what we spent all day doing Saturday. Once in a while we find one in a set. But we just want the shirt! And we want the fabric to be normal dress shirt material. Why is this so hard! Haha. We first want white, but are willing to settle for stripes and colored ones. But everything is that checkered pattern or has weird fabric or has a dang animal on it. We also wanted it to be onsie but gave up on that too. Haha. Then at last, we found the magic, fabulous store. They had THREE! one was a onsie! And one was even folded like an adult shirt, plastic in collar and all hahah. For the low prices of between $32-40!!!! Hahahaha. Oh man. Not happening. But I do love that store. Anyway, that was a ramble. I just want to journal this because I won't believe myself how hard it really has been. (This, in no way, is me asking for some! This means you, Linda and Carol! Hahaha. Love you!)
Well I think that's all. I'll be nice and throw in a picture for you all, because you're such loyal and faithful fans.

26 weeks!!

This week, Dean had started pulling himself up! It's mostly only when we are laying in front of him and he can pull on us. It's not on the couch or anything. While in the crib he can pull himself to his knees, which is adorable. He pulled himself up all the way once but at like a 45* angle haha. That didn't last long but luckily I was hovering.
*so since his tongue clipping, Dean eats more efficiently. He still has the same problems-needs to be sleepy to finish or else he only does a half feeding. Only now the full feeding is about 7-8 minutes and a half is 3-4. We are going to try something new next week though. Standby....
*KR started his second half of this rotation. He's doing the same thing, internal medicine, but now at st. Vincent's (where dean was born!) Instead of ohsu. This week we were spoiled though! Monday he started at ten, found out he only had orientation and was home two hours later! Tuesday he did have a fancy dinner and wasn't home til 9 but but then Wednesday he was done by noon, came home and then had to go to ohsu for some lecture from 3-5. Thursday I think was normal. Then Friday was home by like 4 and Saturday was home by 2!! Sunday was is day off again too! Next week he has Thursday off! Which happens to be a special day for us. Again, standby. The only downfall of that is he has to work next Sunday and also that his next day off is not until the following Saturday. Oh well.
*dean is getting good at rice cereal and although he didn't love sweet potatoes and wouldn't eat them at first, he at least tolerates them now. I also may have let him lick my pear and he may have loved it. We tried it again in his mesh thing and he liked it but didn't quite get the concept of holding it himself. That doesn't make sense cuz everything goes in his mouth usually. So we had to hold it for him haha. This week coming up, we will puree them and see how that goes.
*another major thing: teeeething. Ah! So I've mentioned it a lot. And I truly believe he has teethed here and there. But now its the real deal. We see the bulge, he's reallllly cranky and his hands alllllways in his mouth. Lots of drool, tears and very little sleep. Like, up every hour and 15-30 min. Yikes. Needless to say, its been a hard week. I feel like i say that too frequently. But its true. Between nursing issues, sleeping issues, tongue clipping, teething, sleeping issues(yes I said that twice). I try not to complain but I do. Too much. It's just I knew they said motherhood was hard, I just didn't think for these reasons. I mean, these things, besides teething, aren't normal so I keep thinking its only hard because we are abnormal. If eating wasn't an issue, motherhood wouldn't be so hard (notice I didn't say easy). But then I remember the mothers going through way harder health issues with their babies, or worse, the very deserving mothers without children of their own. I'm grateful, and I truly try to keep perspective. But this trial has definitely gotten the worst of me. My biggest regret already is time not well spent. I have lots of chunks of time that are sweet and wonderful, but I hate how overshadowed this time in our lives is by his nursing issues. I recognize that and try to focus on the sunshine instead of the storms, but its really hard when feeding your baby is such a huge part of motherhood the first part of their life. Ok tangent done. Sorry. Journaling, right?
*anyway, like I said, next week has something new in store and we will see how it goes. Assuming teething isn't the death of me!
*Monday is the big 6 month mark!!!!!! One more, "standby"!!!!

25 weeks

*well the Dr didn't call Monday but Tuesday. Dean was off his med since Saturday so he pretty much went back to his normal. She called tues and referred him to the ent and a speech specialist. That is to check anatomically to make sure things are going down properly.

*the last few weeks, dean it's a very into boxes!! Perfect distraction haha.
*this week he has really discovered tags. Haha I knew it would come eventually.
*Thursday we went to the ent and he decided to clip Dean's tongue. He definitely cried but not like with shots. It wasn't the cry where they don't breathe. It was a more mature, sad cry. I nursed him immediately and he would go off and on with nursing and crying for a few minutes and then he was ok. Later nursing seemed to hurt and was a bit of a struggle for him but then he did ok later. The next day, Friday, I made the mistake of stretching it right before nursing. It hurt to nurse so it was a struggle. Since then, I've been stretching it after, when he's full and happy and he recovers very quickly. So quickly that I'm worried I'm not doing a good job stretching it... But he seems to nurse for shorter and I haven't pumped to see if he can still last three hours-I'm hoping he is more efficient now and that's why he does the shorter time. For the most part it might be true. However, last night was not fun. He ate great before bed so he went three hours. But then he kept only eating 5 minutes or so and then would get up every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. And I could not get him to eat longer. Lips pursed, head turned. And a few times it took more to get him back to sleep. I can't complain though because after his bed time feeding, we stretched his tongue, which woke him up. He was so wide awake and perky, I laid him down to wait til he played it out. I've done this a couple times to conserve my energy (usually I bounce him through the hyper stage up to the tired fussy stage, and then I'm soo tired of bouncing. Now I lay him down until he gets fussy and is more ready) but once in a great while lately, he will find the monitor camera which has red lights, he will stare until he falls asleep. He put himself to sleep last night at bedtime, so again, I can't complain. I know it will take time before I know if this helps or not but either way, I don't regret it because at least I know. That might make me a bad mom, but I saw a quote the other week that said something about motherhood and doing the right thong even when we don't know what the right thing is.
*we went to the zoo with Katie and ruby on Friday and he was so good the whole time. And such a tender mercy, it had been 4 hours and on the way home, traffic was the worst I've experienced with him in the car-he slept the entire way home. I was so so grateful because it could have been a disaster.
*we went for a walk along the waterfront and over bridges on Tuesday with Emily and Reagan. It was really cold but nice. Half way through though, dean got upset so we had to run the rest. I was fine with that since I wanted to run anyway. But Emily didn't even have a jogger stroller so I felt bad. She was so nice about it though. It was her idea even (to run).
*Halloween! Tuesday night we went to our old wards trunk or treat. It was fun to see friends! KR and Dean wore lettermans jackets and I was a fifties cheerleader.

We got lots of compliments. It was really fun. And I'm glad we did that since we didn't do anything on actual Halloween. We watched Charlie Brown. But we didn't even carve pumpkins this year and I'm kind of grumpy over it. KR was just too busy.
*speaking of that, KR finished the first half of this rotation on Friday. He has the whole weekend off and doesn't start Monday until like 10. The next five weeks aren't on the hill but at st. Vincent's (where Dean was born!) So hes going to have to drive. We are grateful for the second car at times like this. The downside to this next half is that he still has 6 days a week but we never know which day will be off. Hard to plan plus.I will have to do Sunday's alone and he will miss church. Oh well, we'll get through it!

24 weeks (do you like how generic these titles are?haha)

*he's starting to push his butt up and pull his knees under!!! I have gone off his cues and so now that he seems ready, I'm helping him by pulling him up on his hands and then he tucks his butt and knees and will be on his hands and knees for a few seconds. I've also noticed a few scoots backwards! Not far at all, so far. Barely noticeable. But its movement. And he rolls all over the place!
*he also tends to lean forward and flip on to his stomach from a sitting position. He does it quickly so I have to watch what's in front of him!
*he does this adorable head tilt. When he's in his car seat, still looming forward, he will just tilt it to the side. Sooo cute!!
*did I mention last week that I put him in the stroller without the carseat?? Facing forward?? (Sorry if I did, but its too much work to save and exit and check, so I will post again). We went running along the waterfront a few times and since he was wide awake, I figured its time to let him look out and enjoy the view! He loooved it!! He didn't like the sun in his eyes towards the end, which is the only bummer because the shade didn't cover him that late in the day. That and I was scared his pacifier would fall out. Without the carseat to catch it, I finally need to get a pacifier clip. But! It was so much lighter to push!! Haha. That thing gets heavy with the stroller, carseat AND a 17 almost 18 lb baby!! So excited for this next stage!!
*he has started sleeping on his side! Haha. It's so cute. I will lay him down, asleep, and he will instantly roll to the side. It's only a bummer if he rolls away from the camera and I can't see his face haha. But if he's awake, he's always moving, so I just go off that and his breathing.
*we've been trying the new medicine. I wasn't noticing a positive difference with his frequency of spitting up. Then it went negative! He was still spitting up frequently but more volume! Then, the volcano returned!! It was happening every morning right after his 4-5am ish feeding. Then he would re-eat. The full amount again. So it was only 2-3 days but I emailed the dr. They suggested giving it in the am rather than pm. So I skipped Monday night and then went to give it Tuesday am but there wasn't enough for a full dose. (They gave me 5 days worth while they ordered the full prescription). So Tuesday afternoon I went and picked it up and he had his first full dose Wednesday am since Sunday. He seemed to spit up less in that period he didn't have it, but he didn't sleep as well Tuesday night. I'm not sure if its correlated but we will see. Poor kid though, apparently it tastes nasty. At first we were alternating it with his vitamin d drops so we might try they again. Otherwise, he has learned a new trick-spitting. Like full on spitting. Not just a raspberry haha. It's a lot of medicine to give him too!! He gags on it! I feel awful!(reminder, this is sort of a journal for me so if this is boring, don't feel obligated to read)
*we finally hung his frames and banner a few weeks ago and I finally got the "d" up this week. Completion!!


*KRs sweet generous mom added me to her zoo pass! So now I can go and even take another adult whenever I want!! I'm so excited and so grateful! She also showed me this idea online and proceeded to give me the supplies to make it!!




(since I wrote the first part of this post mid week, the rest is the update since then....)
*so the medicine did seem to make a little difference for a few days. He burped easier so although he was spitting up still, it seemed to be a little less. He even did some good sleep stretches of up to 5 hours a few nights. But then Saturday I had to pump every feeding because he was stopping at 3 minutes or less. Up until then, his feedings were about the same as always. Then he also couldn't poop. That night. He woke up like every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. He was starving but wouldn't/couldn't eat. I felt awful and didn't know how to help him. So Sunday I quit the medicine and left a message for the dr. We will see what happens next.
*next week is a five day week for KR!!! He has Saturday off and it marks the half way point for this rotation (which is ten weeks. All the rest are five)

23!

this week wasn't super ground breaking but still happy nonetheless. :)
*rolling a ton more! He's doing much better going from tummy to back. He learned that first and has known how for a long time, he just doesn't do it. Well he does now, at least a bit more.
*we finally tried rice cereal again and he seems much more ready! I still have to time it right (not full, not starving, not grumpy, not over tired) but yay!! While at the Drs (I'll get to that), I asked and got a little more info about solids! I have been itching to go find some baby food cookbooks!! Barnes and Noble didn't have much!!! But for now, he's getting rice cereal 2-3 times a day and its not replacing any meals.
*ok Dr appt. I emailed the Dr about his tongue and lip tie. She was on vacation. By the time she got back and responded, I had a new question about silent reflux. We set an appt to address both. She agrees there is a problem!! Finally!! Someone acknowledges that although he's gaining weight and is healthy, its from lots of hard work ans stress and its not normal!! She also agrees with his lip tie but wants us to try antacids medication first because its less invasive. After a few weeks, if no improvement, she's sending us to the ent. I was disappointed (although this is what I wanted just two days earlier, but I changed my mind haha) because I think its just treating a symptom, not the cause. But I figure we should try the less invasive just to cross it off the list. Besides, at this point, what's a few more weeks? It would be nice if this helped. But probably not... We will see.
*we took dean to the pumpkin patch! He liked it, but mostly just being outside and with daddy haha. KR worked reallllly hard to get off a little early yesterday. Normally a full load is two patients for one student. He had three!! So I'm grateful for how hard he worked! And he still did a good job and didn't rush it. It was worth it for the fun time we had and just time together as a family.
*Well this week really didn't have too many little milestones. Although I guess he did grab the side of the changing table this morning!! I hope he doesn't start trying to roll while changing him!!
*oh and this morning I had him in his cradle bed and he was being a little fussy but I was being lazy. It was 5am!! Poor KR, his alarm was going to go off soon. I hate waking up before the alarm but that close. Anyway, so I finally roll over to Dean and he was like arching and twisting!! He seriously could get out if he worked at it long enough!! So I got up ans bounced him to sleep and put him back in the crib (I always start him out there at bed time. The first time he wakes up, I give him his pacifier. The second time, which is usually like 5-10 min later, I try the pacifier one more time. If it happens one more time, I bring him in to his cradle because there is no way I'm doing that all night!! Haha.
Well if I think of something I missed, I will write it. In the meantime...